King Solomon and the Bee

One day, when King Solomon was resting in his garden, a small bee accidentally stung the great king on his nose. Furious, the king summoned all possible offenders and demanded to know who had dared to sting him. A small bee came forward and, as it pleaded for the king’s forgiveness, offered to repay him. King Solomon was amused by the bee’s earnest proposal, for how could such a little bee repay such a powerful king? Dalia Hardof Renberg’s simple adaptation of this traditional story, pared with Ruth Heller’s glorious illustrations, is a surprising and charming tale of how one small bee keeps its mighty promise.